as high as 490 million tons or so, further promotion of energy consumption streamlining is inevitable.

## (g) The reduction of Greenhouse Gas from waste sector

The “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan” has set objectives concerning waste-related measures to reduce the emissions of Greenhouse Gas, and it aims to reduce about 7.8 million tons (carbon dioxide equivalent) in Year 2010. The Greenhouse Gas emission derived from wastes mounted to 44.8 billion tons (carbon dioxide equivalent) in Year 2006, which is about 3.3% of the total amount of Greenhouse Gas emissions (1.34 billion tons carbon dioxide equivalent) of Japan. The reduction amount of Greenhouse Gas emission by recycling of waste to reused fuel and by electric power generation using waste was about 15 million tons (carbon dioxide equivalent) in Year 2005, therefore it is reasonable to assume that the amount of emissions derived from wastes is starting to decrease when those Greenhouse Gas emissions mentioned above are deducted. (Figure 2-2)

The waste reduction has a large effect on the reduction of the amount of Greenhouse Gas emission. The reduce of waste generation contributes to the decrease of Greenhouse Gas generation accompanied by incineration and land fill. It is important to reuse and recycle until nothing is left of any wastes, and to make the most efficient use of the energy contained in flammable waste that must be either incinerated or land filled.

Concerning the power generation facilities/heat utilizing facilities of private businesses, monetary support has been given for the improvement of higher efficient energy utilization which will contribute as a counter-measure to global warming. Having also executed demonstration experiments for the suspension of white smoke prevention equipment, we have made the results well known, because improvements to the operation/maintenance methods in waste disposal facilities can contribute to counter global warming. We also chose and publicized an activity in a model area engaged in the utilization of Biomass derived from wastes, giving high marks for the value of the whole system.

Moreover, in the industrial waste disposal business segment, in November 2007, the National Federation of Industrial Waste Management Association drew up environmental voluntary action plans to reduce the Greenhouse Gas emitted along with the processing of industrial waste; the plans also gave the target to be attained and the measures for achievement of the target (revised in March 2008).

It is important to continue making advances both for the establishment of a Sound Material-Cycle Society and for a low carbon society.

### B. General view of circulative use in our country

Next, the current state of the circulative use of our country in fiscal 2006 is shown in the Figure 2-3. It shows that 583 million tons of waste are generated annually, 228 million tons are put to circulative use by reuse or recycling, 241 million tons are reduced by incineration or dehydration; this leaves only 0.29 million tons for final disposal.

Details are shown in the following.

## (a) Flow of the circulative resources of our country in fiscal 2006

a. Generation stage

In fiscal 2006, the amount generated as waste was 583 million tons. Among these, municipal wastes accounted for 77 million tons (52 million tons of garbage and 25 million tons of night soil), industrial wastes were 418 million tons and other by-products, and other wastes were 87 million tons. (Figure 2-4)

When examined according to characteristics, biomass chiefly consisting of organic sludge and human waste, livestock excrement, and animal or plant residue is by far the largest with 320 million tons, non-metal mineral type materials (soil and stone) consisting of nonorganic polluted sludge and slag accounts for 210 million tons, metal consisting of iron and non-ferrous metal is 37 million tons, and fossil type materials consisting of plastics and paraffin liquid is 15 million tons.

### b. Natural reduction stage

The amount of wastes was 85 million tons, which were

Figure 2-2 The Relation of Reduction of the Amount of Waste Disposal with the Amount of Greenhouse Gas Emission